FitChik

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEARL!!!!!!!

~Marin

I guess you know this guy well enough to know that he wasn't just awkwardly trying to express commiseration? As many of us have experienced, some people say the worst things when they're really trying to be kind. But since that's NOT what's going on here, I'd say to just ignore the jerk and get out when you can!

~Marin

Lori!!!! I've been wondering where you've been! We're all still here, but have been posting mostly on the "Roll Call" thread. I'm glad that you posted here and mentioned that position because I actually forgot about it. Believe it or not, I've been having orgasms that I didn't know were possible through oral. I don't know where P. gets his creativity, but he comes up with a bajillion things to do down there! Unbelievable, really!

So glad to have you back, girl, and glad to hear that the man is behaving himself!

~Marin

Any alternative would have to be something that somehow blocked the production of estrogen or prevented it from acting on cells and I know of nothing else that does that. I guess if we knew of something, we'd ALL be taking it instead of Tamoxifen or an AI. Hell, none of us like the side effects, but we sure DO like the primary effect of vastly reducing the chances of a recurrence!

~Marin

I am in tears, you guys! Tears of gratitude for your beautiful support and tears of relief that I finally outed myself about this and found such acceptance! It's really been my dirty little secret and, so, no, Beth, you & I have never discussed this. Even though I know that you're so actively involved in the field and have had reconstruction yourself and you are such an open-minded, cool chick! I just couldn't. Maybe it's taken me this long to accept my own thoughts and feelings and, so, when I talked to others about it, I did it so negatively and unconvincingly (conveying my own indecision) that they responded without any committment either way? Well, whatever....I know now that this is what I want. And, thanks to all of you and my new PS, I'm not going into this unaware of the potential complications and the possible outcomes. But I'm pretty brave, y'all, and pretty tough.

Sooooooooo, cmb35, let's do it, girrrl! Let's go get us some strong, survivor-lookin' boobs!

Thank you so, so much, my chicas....your positivity and support means the world to me!!!

~Marin

Since my lumpectomy followed by rads 3 years ago, I've watched my left breast settle into having a fairly pronounced divet and I have not been happy about it. I was dissuaded, however, from considering reconstruction and augmentation by everyone from various "Debbie Downers" to a top (though highly conservative) PS I consulted a year ago. With each encounter, I was left feeling ungrateful and guilty for wanting my breasts to look and feel "healthy" again. I want to stress that I AM extremely grateful for 3 years of NED and for having been fortunate enough to keep my original, home-grown breasts. Truly, I acknowledge this gratitude on a daily basis. BUT, nevertheless, something within me continues to press me towards "maximizing" what I'm left with following the active treatment part of this journey. Somehow I feel that by reconstructing and even augmenting my breasts, I am further honoring them for having survived the onslaught. So, as crazy as that may sound to anyone reading this, I am at least, finally, saying this all aloud!

So yesterday was my 3-year follow-up with my surgical oncology team. After a thorough evaluation, we discussed reconstruction and she was more than supportive. (I could have hugged her for not dissing me! Seriously). After talking over the pros & cons, she referred me to the PS she favors and I was actually able to be seen that day. After an equally thorough meeting with the PS, during which she explained all of my options, I left feeling extremely hopeful and uplifted (pun intended?)!  Now I'm to think it all over and email her/call her to begin the process.

What I'm asking of you, my sisters, is some positive input, if you have any. Over the years, I've seen several threads dedicated to sharing positive stories of recon/aug. following rads, so I know they're out there. This PS allows that radiated tissue can be more difficult and increases the chances of encapsulation, but she is very positive about making efforts to avoid that and about addressing it if it does become a problem.

Are there any of you reading this who have had successful reconstruction and augmentation (with implants) after radiation? If so, please share your story or refer me to stories elsewhere. I'm about to take the plunge!

~Marin

OmahaGirl...Good for you for your determination to go after it! I absolutely agree that sensual enjoyments and sexual intimacy is one of the greatest gifts we have as humans and such joys should not be surrendered without a mighty fight! That is, in fact, my main reason for posting so often on this thread and others addressing this issue. In think that we who have lost so much through BC shouldn't haven't to lose any more.

So go for the visualizations, etc. I say that anything that can make it "new" and exciting for both of you can get the juices flowing again. And even if you don't hit the jackpot every time, the pleasure of trying can be very rewarding!

~Marin

This is very good news for those of us experiencing low libido as a result of menopause or chemopause! Some may wish to defer judgment pending replication of this study, though, since 4 of the subjects who were randomized to the testosterone (vs. placebo) were dx'd with BC. The investigators conjecture that 2 of these most likely already had BC and one was high risk; however, I think that we, as an exceptional population who are high risk by virtue of our already having had BC, might need to be extra-cautious. Still, this offers hope for being an effective solution to the problem. Then, there's the "unwanted hair," but laser and waxing are a small price to pay for good MOJO, doncha think?!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081106/hl_hsn/testosteronepatchrestoreslibidoinpostmenopausalwomen

In other "news," I'd like to encourage those of you who haven't tried any extreme fantasizing to really give it a try! Since I've become more open-minded about employing fantasy (in other words, I've accepted that it is not insulting to one's partner to fantasize during sex) AND broadened my own imagination, my O's have increased in frequency and in the time it takes to reach them. For some "encouragement," check out the ones written by posters on this iVillage board:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=iv-rlfantasy&nav=start&prettyurl=%2Fiv%2Drlfantasy (see "Steamy Stories").

~Marin

Hmmmm, manilagirl, I'm not sure if you should necessarily think anything like recurrence here. Rather, you could have some chronic, as-yet-untreated breast issue that is unrelated to cancer and just acted up from the treatments. Why don't you try to get a second opinion from another breast specialist? That's what I would do because even if its not related to cancer, it's not normal and, so, should be addressed.

~Marin

Speaking of massaging cats, my boyfriend massages his cat's eyes (!)...and she just adores it! Now he's started to do it to one of my cats (the kitten isn't interested in anything but tearing all around, doing flips and somersaults) and my cat loves it too! I always rub her neck and shoulders and it seems to relax her and make her happy.

I also love horses and rode when I was a kid. If it weren't so expensive, I'd definitely take it up again since we have quite a few stables in my area. One thing I adore about horses is how expressive and emotive they are. They don't seem to realize how huge they are either!

 ~Marin